Life Word: Discovering Your One Word To Leave A LegacySample

Define Your Power

Most kids love superheroes like Superman, Spiderman, and Wonder Woman. We would occasionally ask our own kids, “If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower?” The number one answer was being able to fly, followed by being invisible. It’s fun to hear them use their imaginations and dream that they could be superheroes.

And although none of us have experienced those superpowers, we’ve all been blessed as Christians with spiritual gifts and strengths. “Defining your Power” is the process of identifying your spiritual gifts and strengths and is the first part of finding your Life Word. It’s up to us to discover and develop those gifts and use them for God’s glory.

There are some qualities we receive at salvation—we call these spiritual gifts. There are several passages that list the spiritual gifts like Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, then take a spiritual gifts assessment to discover your God-given gifts.

In addition to gifts, you’ve been blessed by God with strengths and skills which can be developed over time with effort and experience. It’s easy to see how God has wired each one of us in unique ways, and it’s a beautiful thing when we each utilize that for the Kingdom of God.

There are several questions we have found to help you to uncover your gifts and strengths. These are the top four questions to help you Define your Power:

1. What do you naturally excel at?
2. What unique characteristics describe how you are naturally wired?
3. What strengths have you developed over time?
4. What gives you joy when you do it?

To prime the pump a little, here is a quick list of words that may describe you. Review the list and take a few moments to circle some words that you think fit you.

leading, administration, hospitality, compassion, serving, communication, belief, analytical, learner, teambuilding, organizing, simplifying, listening, encouragement, strategic, insightful, focus, visualizing, discipline, patience, energy, positive, developing, building, creating, artistic, musical, writing, speaking, inventing, detail-oriented, vision, problem-solving, discernment, teaching, training, empathy, dreaming, dependable, honest, intuitive, motivator, perseverance, resilience, joyful, tenacity, kindness, intellectual, musical, confident, connecting, helping, humor, networking, sensing …

The gifts and strengths you identify will help discover your Life Word. When you combine your power with your purpose and passion, you gain more and more clarity on your way to leaving a positive mark for Christ on others.